Naturalist Carrol
Henderson has visited Costa Rica for years. He has observed varying
numbers of Orioles in various habitat types and elevation zones:

# Sightings

Elevation

Habitat

0

Above 10,500'

Subalpine/Rain Paramo

0

7,500'-10,500'

Montane/Wet or Rain

3

4,200'- 7,800'

Lower Montane (includes cloud forest)

7

1,800'- 4,500'

Subtropical (Pre-montane) Forests

10

Sea level to 1,800'

Tropical (Lowland) Forests

These observations are important. They remind us that even a generalist
bird like the oriole has habitat needs and preferences on the wintering
grounds. When certain types of forest are cleared for human use, the
birds that depend on that forest type will be affected. People in tropical
countries burn or clear the low-elevation forests first, and now forests
at higher and higher elevations are being cleared as human populations
grow.

According to Henderson's records, what type of habitat type do orioles seem
to prefer? What might be some results if the preferred habitat disappears?